Man And Woman Fall Through Ice While Hunting For Turtles

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — A man and woman were out of the hospital Sunday, after they fell through the ice in the Passaic River while turtle hunting.

The 30-year-old woman called 911 around 8:15 p.m. Saturday to report that her 37-year-old boyfriend had fallen into the water, police said. The woman then apparently tried to step in and help the man herself, only to fall in too.

Rescue crews soon arrived and had to paddle against the current and cut down trees with chainsaws to reach the couple, who were holding on to a tree.

Both victims were suffering from extreme hypothermia when they were pulled from the water around 9:15 p.m., but they were treated at a hospital and released on Sunday.

Four firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Authorities did not know why the man and woman were looking for turtles.